NORWICH – Tuesday, before an audience of great judicial and law enforcement experience, Chenango County Court was called into special session by Judge W. Howard Sullivan to commemorate “Law Day.” During the ceremonies, the Chenango County Bar Association honored long-time law enforcement veteran William D. Excell with its annual Liberty Bell Award.

Excell has served the citizens of Chenango for over three decades, working for the Sheriff’s Office and the villages of Earlville and Sherburne.

“I have always been proud to say I was a policeman,” said Excell.

He began at the Earlville PD and started working for the Sheriff’s Office as a crack investigator in 1966 until retiring 18 years later in 1984. Even after retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, Excell continued serving for another 22 years as Sherburne’s Police Chief up until last summer, when he finally retired from the law enforcement community.

Excell received his award in front of an audience, including his wife and family and his one time superior, and friend, retired Sheriff Joseph J. Benenati. Also in attendance for the Law Day proceedings were Sheriff Thomas Loughren, District Attorney Joseph McBride, Police Chief Joseph Angelino, State Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Garry and retired State Supreme Court Justice Irad Ingraham, along with several other notable members of the legal community.